Police say Cuevas was trying to escape the robbers when he ran into the officer.

The impact apparently caused the weapon to fire.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said the officer followed procedure and the shooting was an accident.

“He ran full speed into the officer,” said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. “The two became entangled, at which point, we believe, the officer accidently discharged his weapon, with one round entering his shoulder.”

However family and friends of the victim say he was mistreated after being wounded.

“They just killed my cousin and dragged him like he was a dog,” said Cuevas’s cousin. “I think we should really have some type of respect. My family is really broken down right now. My family is going through a lot.”

Commissioner Kelly met with Cuevas’s mother and expressed his condolences but angry residents say too many blacks and Latinos are shot by police.

Cuevas’ uncle, Jesus, who is the store’s owner, is outraged.

“No, that’s no accident,” Jesus said. You don’t have nothing here. You shoot one time, that is no accident. That is stupid.”

“I don’t believe deep in my heart that a New York City police officer will intentionally kill anybody,” said Fernando Mateo, the president of Hispanics Across America. “But I do believe that the NYPD needs to re-educate and retrain its men and women.”

Source say that this was the first time the officer has fired his gun in his seven years on the job.

The actual robbers, 17-year-old Christopher Dorsey, 28-year-old Ernesto Delgado and Orlando Ramos attempted to pass as hostages but were arrested and charged with murder, robbery and weapons possession.